Villanova alums surveyed about Big East football opportunity

In April, Villanova's board of trustees will decide whether the school should move up to Division I-A in football by joining the Big East, where it has played in basketball for 3 decades.

Recently, about 60,000 Villanova alums received a survey regarding the possible upgrade, which included a short video discussing the issues, financial and otherwise. An additional 2,000 faculty and staffers also have been asked for their input, as well as the 9,500 students.

The survey covered the same material that has been out there since the Daily News first reported last September that the Big East had extended such an invitation. The video looked at the pros and cons. Among the "areas of risk" were increased scrutiny, negative national news stories and the possibliity that the program might not be competitive. Other concerns were the diversion of university resources from academics and the impact that an increase of athletic scholarships might have on reducing the number of slots for other students.

The positives? An increase in recognition, as well as a strengthened position in a prominent athletic conference, one of six that make up the lucrative Bowl Championship Series. It's hard to put a value on that, although it's safe to say a lot of other programs, both at I-A and I-AA, would welcome the chance to find out.

It was pointed out that not moving up obviously would mean less monetary risk and more of a "focus" on the university's academic objectives. As was the fact that staying put would be a lost opportunity to increase name recognition nationally and could have a long-term negative effect on Villanova athletics as a whole.

The university also said it has commissioned studies on the strategic and financial assessment of implications for the school, an architectural assessment for a new practice/training facility (to cost an estimated $35 million), an assessment of the effect on fundraising, and market research to determine consumer demand for tickets.

The school disbanded its football program in 1980, only to bring it back 5 years later at what is now called the Football Championship Series level. In 2009, the Wildcats won the national championship. Last season, they reached the national semifinals.

If Villanova does say yes, it would need to move from its 12,000-seat Villanova Stadium to a larger stadium, because of Division I-A attendance standards. Right now, the most viable game facility is 18,500-seat PPL Park in Chester, home of the Philadelphia Union, of Major League Soccer.

Villanova had the opportunity to move up in 1997. Connecticut said yes and just went to the Fiesta Bowl. Villanova isn't a big state school. So there are valid arguments on both sides. This decision is not about now, but rather the future, and where Villanova wants to be positioned in 10 or 20 years in this ever-changing landscape. Especially now that its basketball program has become a national brand.

If only someone had a crystal ball.

But, as someone very close to this situation put it not that long ago: If Villanova says no, and 2 years down the road Temple gets invited, that's not good for the Main Line. Just a scenario worth pondering. *